Effect of Fat and Lecithin and of Moisture Levels of Corn and Corn Silage on Nutrient Digestibility by Ruminants3

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Abstract
Six cattle and three lamb digestion trials were conducted to study the effect of 3% added fat on nutrient digestibility by ruminants. In addition, the effect of moisture levels of corn (11% vs 26%) and of corn silage (64% vs 50%) on nutrient digestibility by cattle was studied. Added fat depressed (P<.01) ash and protein digestibility while increasing (P<.01) fiber digestibility. These effects were more pronounced for fat in combination with low moisture silage. Lambs responded somewhat differently in that added fat decreased crude fiber digestibility (P<.01). Furthermore, the combination of 2% lecithin and fat resulted in no effect on crude fiber digestibility, but resulted in a decrease (P<.01) in protein digestibility. High moisture corn nutrients were more (P<.01) digestible than those for low moisture corn, except for ash. Digestibility of ash was lower (P<.01) for low moisture silage while digestibility of energy, NFE and ether extract were higher (P<.01) for low moisture silage. Dry matter, protein and crude fiber digestibility were unaffected by silage moisture level. Copyright © 1979. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1979 by American Society of Animal Science.